The Truong Giang is the quiet river of southern Da Nang: long, wide and lined with fish nets and grass flats. This week it took two lives in three days, both in the kind of weather locals know to fear.

We're not naming the men. Their families are grieving, and the lesson matters more than the names.

Wednesday afternoon, Quang Phu

At about 3 p.m. on October 7, a 66-year-old man and his wife rowed a small boat out near Ky Phu bridge in Quang Phu ward to cut grass, Thanh Nien reported. On the way back, in heavy rain, the boat capsized. His wife can't swim. He pushed her onto a sack of grass to keep her afloat, then was swept away. She drifted about 250 to 300 meters before residents pulled her out, according to Thanh Nien and VietNamNet.

The ward's military command, police, residents and SOS Quang Nam volunteers with two speedboats searched the next day in high, fast water, VietNamNet reported. As of midday October 8, he had not been found. (The two outlets differed slightly. VietNamNet's related coverage said the couple had been setting nets.)

Friday night, Nui Thanh

At about 9:30 p.m. on October 9, a 42-year-old man was fishing from a boat with his wife near Tam Giang bridge in Nui Thanh commune when lightning struck the boat, Thanh Nien reported. He fell into the river and sank. Coast Guard Region 2 sent 15 officers and soldiers to join the military, police, border guards and residents. They searched for nearly two days in heavy rain and found his body at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, about 50 meters from where he went in.

What both cases have in common

Both men were doing ordinary river work, cutting grass and fishing, that families along the Truong Giang do every week. Both happened during this week's storms, when, as we reported, forecasters were warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms and rising rivers.

Neither article carried safety advice, so here's the standard version:

  • Lightning: if you hear thunder, get off the water. A boat on open water is often the highest point around.
  • Rising water: small boats and fast currents don't mix. Wait it out.
  • Flotation: a life jacket, or even a float tied to the boat, buys time. A sack of grass saved one life this week.

The river will be just as quiet tomorrow. That's what makes it dangerous.

Sources

This story was compiled by the Da Nang Voice news desk from the published sources listed above. Facts, figures and quotes are attributed to those sources; Da Nang Voice did not conduct interviews for it unless the text says so. Corrections are dated and noted at the top of the story. Read our corrections policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.